Composer teaches guitar, pianoDecember 2015

Andrew Wingert, an instruc-tor at the Wichita Music Academy, followed his older brother into music.

“I thought I wanted to be just like him,” Wingert said.

His brother took piano les-sons, and Wingert started playing piano at age 5.

“He quit, and I kept going,” Wingert remarked.

He took up guitar when he was in high school because he wanted to try another instrument. He said his first guitar, which was lying around the house, was “so big and poorly made.” Even so, his love of music was solidi-fied.

Wingert – a native of Lititz, Pennsylvania – received his bachelor’s degree in music composition. When he gradu-ated from college, he worked as a long-term substitute at a

Christian school.

Wingert’s wife, Shannon Nakai, became a Fulbright Scholar who taught English at Mugla University in Tur-key. Wingert taught piano lessons there, where he had about 30 students.

Following the couple’s re-turn from Turkey, Wingert spent two years working on his master’s degree in music composition at State Col-

Andrew Wingert clowns around with his two favorite musical instruments.

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lege, Pennsylvania. After he earned his degree, the two moved to Wichita so Nakai could pursue her master’s in poetry at Wichita State Uni-versity.

Wingert teaches piano, gui-tar and music composition at Garten’s Music, home of the Wichita Music Academy. When he was in college, he tutored students in music the-

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Graduation day!

Congratulations to our graduates of the Goofin’ Around Keyboard Class (Easy Favorites)! Front, from left: Yvonne Coon, Kerrie Platt, Lynette Hasz. Back, from left: Esther Gable, Eva Buehler, Maxine Mikesell. Not pictured: Farol McMillan, Linda Beauchamp, Becky Klaver, Clara DeHaven, Larry McCurry.

Congratulations to our graduates of the Goofin’ Around Keyboard Class (3-chord Country)! From left: Sally Wiebe, Merl Hollis, Edna Tomlin. Not pictured: Tina Baldwin, Marion Crouse, Cheryl Privett, Connie Profaizer, Floyd Hansen.

Connie Kiewel has joined Garten’s Music & the Wichita Music Academy as a part-time staff member! She dressed up as a bee for Halloween. Connie was The Wichita Eagle’s first female police reporter, and her most recent job was in the Boeing Wichita communications and public affairs organization. Welcome, Connie!

Queen bee

Welcome to new & returning students who signed up for lessons & classes!Eva B.Maxine M.Lynette H.Clara D.Robert S.Cheryl P.Floyd H.Esther G.Merl H.Edna T.Brenda M.Nina C.King-Jay G.Killian C.Tin T.Lexie B.

Lynne G.Joyce O.Wanda S.Connie G.Priscilla L.Vesta C.Brent K.Bill H.Sue M.Evelyn W.Connie P.LE A.Dee C.Bobbi B.Michelle T.Angie R.

The Wichita MusicAcademy offers instruction in piano, keyboard, guitar, bass, voice, ukulele, tuba,

saxophone, trombone, trumpet, flute, clarinet,

violin, viola andbaritone/euphonium!

Call today to reserve your spot ... before the time and day you want are taken!

Like us on Facebook!Facebook.com/gartensmusic

Congratulations to our graduates of the Goofin’ Around Keyboard Class (Very Best of the Rat Pack)! Back, from left: Connie Gonzalez, Evelyn Whitmer, LE Anderson, Vesta Campbell, Wanda Shaw. Front, from left: Bill Hall, Priscilla Liddeke, Phyllis Carr. Not pictured: Ruth Faught, Red Kimball, Brent Kleeman, Liz Hicks, Joyce O’Dell.

Students celebrating one-year anniversaries at the Wichita Music

Academy:

Gavin Kline, piano

Harlan Harkman, violin Nate Harkman, piano

Brady Jones, bass guitar

Abigail Webb, piano and voice

Mark your calendars!Upcoming classes and gatherings at Garten’s Music:L.I.F.E. in Kansas

MusicMakersJoin the club and enjoymaking music with us!

– 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4

PlayTimeis an opportunity for current and former Lowrey students

to enjoy listening to and playing for your friends!

– 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11

Organ ClubChristmas Luncheonwill be at Spear’s Res-

taurant & Pie Shop at the corner of Maple and Tracy. Guests are welcome! Cost

is $11. If you’d like to participate in the gift ex-change, bring a gift of up to $10. Please RSVP to

Garten’s, 942-1337!

– 11:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 18

Garten’s will be closedfor Christmas on

Friday, Dec. 25, and Satur-day, Dec. 26. The Wichita Music Academy will be

closed Thursday, Dec. 24, through Friday, Jan. 1.

Esther Gable won our monthly drawing in

October! She received an LED music light.

Congrats, Esther!

Tuners from $9.95, touch-screen metronomes

$19.95, scarves $14.95, jewelry

from $7.99 & musical Christmas

cards!

Christmas specials!

Ukes to grand pianos, priced for Christmas

giving.

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ory and music history classes. He has taught guitar students in the past, and he has played in bands and at churches.

Wingert likes teaching at the Wichita Music Academy. His favorite part of instruction: “seeing kids get excited about a song they’re playing.”

“When they have a ‘this is so cool’ moment, I really enjoy those,” he added.

Wingert is also working on six commissioned pieces. An-other skill is music notation;

if a composer has various scores he or she has created, Wingert will put them in a book in the correct format for publication.

Some of Wingert’s favorite creations of his own are film scores, which he has done in the past for short films.

“I’m actually doing a film score starting about a month from now,” he continued. “This is my first full-length film score I’ll be doing.”

He especially appreciates

Are you looking to save money this December and shop local?

Garten’s Music & the Wichita Music Academy joined the Local Legacy program, spon-sored by Legacy Bank. It is open only to businesses that are locally owned and where all decisions are made locally.

Those with a Legacy Bank checking account receive a

film scores written by Hans Zimmer and James Horner. Some of Wingert’s favorite professional musicians are classical composer John Ad-ams, the band Radiohead and several other artists.

Wingert said he was exposed to different bands and new kinds of music during high school. That led to the advice he offers aspiring musicians.

“The turning moment in my life was finding music that I liked,” Wingert said. “Try to discover new music.”

debit card indicating they are Local Legacy members. Others may purchase a Local Legacy membership card for $25, and it lasts for one year from the date of purchase.

Those who possess a Leg-acy Bank debit card or a Local Legacy membership

card are entitled to discounts at nearly 100 participating businesses. The merchants include food and drink estab-lishments, shopping destina-tions and service providers such as auto repair shops, dry cleaners and salons.

To purchase the Local Leg-acy card or view a list of merchant partners and the discounts they offer, visit www.locallegacy.com. And remember to shop local this holiday season!

Save money with Local Legacy program

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u Receive discounts from nearly 100 merchants,including Garten’s Music

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